CROP PRODUCTION
1. Understand and apply principles of agronomy to various crops
1.2. dentify and Implement Appropriate Crop-Specific Management Practices
Chapter Title: Identify and Implement Appropriate Crop-Specific Management Practices
🎯 Learning Outcomes
By the end of this chapter, the learner should be able to:
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Identify management practices specific to different crop types.
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Understand the unique growth requirements and challenges of selected crops.
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Implement best practices for field management, input application, and harvesting.
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Adjust crop practices based on local conditions, crop stages, and climate.
📖 Chapter Notes
🔹 1. Crop-Specific Management Overview
Different crops require different care based on their growth habits, environmental needs, and sensitivity to inputs. A "one-size-fits-all" approach is ineffective.
🔹 2. Key Management Areas by Crop
| Crop | Specific Management Practices |
|---|---|
| Maize | Timely weeding (2 & 6 weeks), top-dressing with CAN, pest scouting for stalk borer. |
| Beans | Inoculation with Rhizobia, early planting, avoid waterlogging, disease-resistant varieties. |
| Tomatoes | Staking, regular spraying (fungicides/insecticides), mulching, calcium supplements. |
| Rice | Water level control (5–10 cm), puddling, uniform transplanting, rat control. |
| Cassava | Spacing 1m x 1m, remove weeds regularly, harvest on time (9–12 months). |
🔹 3. Stage-Based Crop Management
| Growth Stage | What to Manage |
|---|---|
| Germination | Moisture, seed health, soil temperature |
| Vegetative | Fertilizer topdressing, pest and weed control |
| Flowering & Fruiting | Water stress, nutrient demand, pest scouting |
| Maturity & Harvest | Drying down, proper timing, storage readiness |
📝 Summary
Effective crop management is crop-specific and stage-specific. Understanding what each crop needs at each stage—from soil preparation to harvesting—ensures healthy growth and higher yields. Farmers must tailor their actions based on each crop's requirements and growing conditions.
✅ Quiz
1. Which of these crops requires puddling before transplanting?
✅ A. Rice
B. Beans
C. Maize
D. Tomatoes
2. Why is staking important for tomatoes?
✅ A. Prevents fruit rot and improves air flow
B. Improves color
C. Reduces harvesting time
D. Increases seed production